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2 Sheets--Sheet 1. W. A. CHURCH.

v STOVB GRATE."" No. 415,665. Patented-Nov. 19, 1889.

(No Model.)

(No Model.) 2 Sheefs-Sheet 2. W. A. CHURCH. sToVE GRATB Patented Nov. 19, 1889*.

fla/M N. PETERS Phohrlllhognphur. Wnhingon. D. Q

TTR 1.,.

EEICE.

PATENT WILLIAM A. CHURCH, or 'WATERBURY, CONNECTICUT, AssieNoR 'To MARTHA E. CHURCH, or SAME PLACE.

sTovEfcRATE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 415,665, dated November 19, 1889. Application filed June 24,1889. Serial No. 315,323. (No model.)

T0 all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, TILLTAM A. CHURCH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Iaterbury, in the county of New Haven and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Stove- Grates; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will ienable others skilled "in the art to which it appertains to malte and use the same.

My invention has for its object to produce a simple, inexpensive, and easily-operated grate for stoves, ranges, furnaces, tbe., the essential principle thereof being oscillating grate-bars having prongs extending inward therefrom, in combination with fixed prongs extending inward from the frame-work of the grate, and which also serve as supports for the grate-bars.

I/Vith these ends in view I have devised the novel construction of which the following description, in connection with the accompany ing drawings, is a specification, numbers being used to denote the several parts.

Figure lis a section through the re-box of an ordinary range embodying my novel invention, the grateebars being at their normal position, as when in ordinary use; Fig. 2, a similar view, the portionsof the range being omitted, showing in full lines the prongs upon the grate-bars at their extreme lowered position, as when dumping the grate, and in dot-ted lines the prongs upon the gratebars in a raised position, as in shaking; Fig. 3, a plan view of my novel grate in operative position; Fig. 4, a rear elevation thereof in operative position; Fig. 4, a detail view of the latch to engage the stump; Fig. 5, an end View of the grate and frame detached,illustrating the operating mechanism; and Fig. 6 is an opposite end view to that in Fig. 5, the capplate being removed.

Similar numbers denote the same parts in all the figures.

1 denotes the lirebox of a range; 2, the top;

3, the front plate; 4, the back plate; 5, thewater-back, andv 6 `fire-brick. These parts may all be of the ordinary or any preferred construction.-

7 denotes the grate -frame, which is, of course, made of suitable form and-sizeto oorrespond with the range or stove in which it is to be used, and which is supported in any ordinary or preferred manner, as by lugs or projections S upon the front and back` plates.

9 denotes prongs extending inward from the opposite sides of vthe grate-frame. Any number of these prongs may be used, and they are shaped in practice to correspond with the oscillating pron of the grate proper, which I shall presently describe. They are made of sui'lieient length to extend approximately half-way across the space between the side pieces of the grate-frame, and may be cast integral therewith or detachably secured thereto, as maybe preferred.

10 denotes rock-shafts mounted in the ends of the grate-frame, and provided with prongs l1, extending inwardly approximately halfway across the open space between the sides of the grate-frame, these prongs corresponding substantially in shape with fixed prongs 9, which extend inward from the sides..

The relative arrangement of the rock-shafts and prongs 9 is clearly shown in Fig. 2. The rock-shafts are placed over the prongs, but are not supported thereby, the prongs being provided with depressions in which the rockshafts lie, but without Contact therewith. I thus avoid friction between the rock-shafts and prongs 9, should the rock-shafts become slightly warped in use. The rock-shafts are preferably provided with collars 10a, which rest against the ends of the grate-frame, thereby preventing endwise movement of the rock-shafts.

It will of course be apparent that any number of prongs 9 may be provided on the frame, and any number of prongs l1 on the rock-shafts. In practice I preferably construct them substantially as shown in the drawings-that is, double the number of prongs on each rock-shaft that there are extending inward from the opposite sides of the frame, the prongs upon the frame being out of line with each other and each corresponding with one of the prongs upon the rocleshaft.

12 denotes lugs proj ecting'upward from the IOO ` ends of the frame and provided at their upper ends with holes, and 13 cap-plates having upon their under sides lugs 14, provided with holes which register with the holes in the lugs upon the end pieces. These capplatescover the ends of the rock-shafts and the parts are retained in operative position by pins 15, (see dotted lines in Fig. 3,) which are driven through the holes in lugs 12 and 14. It will be noticed (see Fig. 5) that the lug 12 and cap-plate 13 at one end are made high enough so that the cap-plate will inclose the operating mechanism, which I will now describe. y

One of the rock-shafts is provided with an angular stump 16, extendingthrou gh the plate of the range, the outer end thereof being adapted to receive a shaking-lever in the ordinary manner. The opposite ends of the rock-shaft (see Fig. 5) are provided with arms 17, extending in opposite directions, the ends :of said arms being connected by a link 1S,

from Figs. 3 and 4, it being of course appar- Awill be clearly understood from Figs. 1 and 2.

ent that the special shape of the latch is` wholly unimportant so far as myinvention is concerned.

The operation of my novel grate as a whole When it is desired to shake down the tire or to dump the grate, latch 19 is lifted to release the rock-shaft, and a shaking-lever is applied to stump 16 in the ordinary manner,`

and the rock-shafts oscillated thereby. To dump the grate, the rock-shafts and prongs 11 are thrown to substantially the position vshown in full lines in Fig. 2, which permits the entire contents of the grate to drop down between prongs 9 and between the ends of prongs 11 into the ash-pit. To shake down the fire, the shaking-lever is simply oscillated more or less vigorously, as may be required, the effect of which is to throw prongs 11 alternately above and below the plane of prongs 9, as is indicated by dotted lines in Figs. 1 and 2. The upward movement of prongs 11 acts to break up clinker which may have formed, and to thoroughly agitate and stir the fire, withoutI danger, however, of coals dropping through, unless it is desired that they should.

It is obvious that my novel grate is equally "gapplicable to all classes of stoves, ranges, and

furnaces. Vhen applied to an ordinary circular furnace, the grate-frame is cast with the same opening as I have shown in the drawings, the exterior, however, of said frame being a circle to correspond with the shape of the furnace, and the segmental portions of the frame being slotted to permit ashes to drop through at the edges. This, being an obvious modification and'within the province of any manufacturer, is not deemed to require illustration. l

Having thus described my invention, I claimf 1. A stove-grate consisting, essentially, of a frame having inwardly-extendin g prongs, and rock-shafts mounted in said frame and having prongs adapted to lie in line with the prongs on the frame, substantially as described.

2. A stove-grate consisting of a frame hav- I ing series of prongs extending inward from the sides approximately half-way across the opening, and rock-shafts mounted in said frame and provided with series of prongs adapted to lie in line with the corresponding series on the frame, the ends of the opposite sets of prongs being approximately in contact in the normal position.

A stove-grate consisting of a frame having prongs extending inward therefrom, rockshafts mounted in said frame, also having prongs extending inward therefrom, and means-for example, arm S-on th e rock-shafts extending in opposite directions, and a lilik connecting said arms, whereby when a shaking-lever is applied to one of the rock-shafts both may be oscillated to stir the fire or to dump the grate.

4. A grate-frame having prongs 9 extending inward therefrom, in combination with rock-shafts j ournaled in said frame and lying above said prongs, but not in contact therewith, prongs 11 upon said rock-shafts, arms extending from said rock-shafts in opposite directions, and a link connecting said arms, so that movement imparted to one of said rock-shafts is communicated to the other and the prongs thereon are moved upward and downward, as and for the purpose set forth.

5. A grate consisting of a frame-work having prongs 9, rock-shafts mounted in said fram e-work and having prongs 11, a link and arms connecting said rock-shafts, so that the prongs thereon are moved upward and downward together, and a latch engaging one of the rock-shafts to hold them at their normal position.

6. The frame having lugs 12 and prongs 9 and rock-shafts mounted in said frame and having prongs 11, in combination with capplates having lugs 14, holes in the lugs registering with each other respectively, and pins engaging said holes, whereby the parts are retained in place. Y

In testimony whereofI affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM A. CHURCH. Witnesses:

NATHL. R. BRoNsoN, HELEN J. BIRKEMWAYER.`

IIO 

